Teen Sleep Cycles, Sustainable Seaweed, and Fast Food Risks

Reading 1: The Biology of Sleep and Night Owls

Many teenagers, like Brian, struggle to wake up for school. While teachers might perceive them as lazy, science suggests a different reason. Every human has an internal body clock, or chronotype, controlled by "clock genes." In teenagers, the body releases melatonin (the sleep hormone) much later than in adults. This means their brains are not ready to sleep until 11:00 p.m. or later. When they must wake up at 7:00 a.m., they suffer from social jet lag and feel exhausted. Scientists suggest that starting school later could make students more focused and productive.

Comprehension Questions

• True or False? Teenagers are tired in the morning because they are irresponsible.
  Answer: False. Quote: "Science suggests a different reason... their body releases melatonin much later."
• What is a "chronotype"?
  Answer: It is the internal body clock that every human has, which is controlled by genes.
• Find a synonym in the text for "very tired":
  Answer: Exhausted.
• How could schools help students according to the text?
  Answer: By starting classes later in the morning.

Reading 2: Food for the Future: The Power of Seaweed

As the world’s population grows, we need new food sources. Seaweed is a prime candidate. It is a sustainable crop because it grows extremely fast and does not require land or fresh water. Fortunately, it is also very healthy and full of antioxidants. However, many people in the West find its texture unpleasant. To solve this, food companies are creating new products, such as seaweed snacks that look and taste like traditional crisps. Apparently, seaweed could soon be a regular part of a balanced diet.

Comprehension Questions

• Why is seaweed "sustainable"?
  Answer: Because it grows very fast and does not require land or fresh water.
• What is the main problem for Western consumers?
  Answer: They often find the texture of seaweed unpleasant.
• True or False? Seaweed is bad for your health.
  Answer: False. Quote: "It is also very healthy and full of antioxidants."
• Find a word in the text that means "It seems that":
  Answer: Apparently.

Reading 3: Health and Fast Food: The Super Size Me Experiment

In the documentary Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock decided to eat only fast food for 30 days. The outcome was shocking: he gained weight quickly, and his doctors became worried about his heart. This experiment showed that a diet based on junk food has a terrible impact on our immune system. Nowadays, people are more health-conscious, but fast food remains a "bitter pill to swallow" for society because it is cheap and easy to find.

Comprehension Questions

• What was the result of Morgan’s experiment?
  Answer: He gained weight quickly and his health/heart condition worsened.
• What does the author mean by "a bitter pill to swallow"?
  Answer: That fast food is a difficult problem to solve or a hard reality to accept.
• Find a synonym for "Result":
  Answer: Outcome.